Huntsman has assembled a portfolio of polyurethane and epoxy resins that can be used to create underbody and top cover battery protection components. The products can also lower overall part weight and increase strength and structural performance. A range of products is currently available covering various battery performance and protection needs:
Targeting underbody battery protection, Huntsman offers Rimline WCM system – a low viscosity liquid resin that enables the moulding of high fibre volume fraction composites under low pressure. Balancing a long working life and short cure time with mould release, this system can help reduce overall cycle times and is formulated for use on high pressure-mix machines.
For battery enclosures, Araldite FST resins allow the design of flame retardant composite These OEM- qualified systems have proven performance and reliability, meeting battery safety requirements.
Targeting battery underfloor protection, Huntsman has developed three products:
- Rimline FC (foam core) system can offer a solution for manufacturing sandwich composites. This lightweight system has flow properties which can help with the creation of 3D shapes. This system can typically also adhere well to different over moulding materials and cure quickly for fast cycle times.
- Rimline LFI (long fibre injection) resin system can be moulded into strong stiff parts with a density of – for example – 1100 kg/m3 including 30% glass fibre reinforcement. The resulting parts can help to provide lower total sandwich thickness and improved damage tolerance.
- Araldite 3031 / 3032 WCM system is said to combine fastest processing cure time and outstanding mechanical properties and stiffness.
Targeting top cover applications, the Vitrox WCM system enables the development of composite lid structures that can help achieve thermal resistance while reducing weight compared to metallic cover Araldite SMC solutions enable part design freedom for semi-structural applications and requirements.
In the electric vehicle battery cell, Huntsman has also developed a range of materials that help with lightweighting and improved conductivity, as well as thermal, vibration, and structural protection.
- Shokless encapsulation foam and elastomer systems help to create potting foams and encapsulants that are mechanically strong and have the thermal insulation and vibration dampening properties needed to protect batteries at a cell, module, and pack level.
- Arathane thermally conductive adhesives and encapsulants provide mechanical fixation and thermal connection, enabling effective heat management from the cells and enabling new battery pack designs and higher performance batteries.
- For battery cell producers looking to increase the capacity of their cells or interested in reduction of the weight of their cells, Huntsman has introduced Miralon NMP Dispersions and Miralon Current Collectors. The Miralon NMP Dispersions for LFP and high-nickel cathodes is expected to offer high conductivity with much lower concentration than carbon black and are rate performance-compatible with fast charging protocols. Miralon Current Collectors for ultra-lightweight applications can replace heavier metallic current.
